Bavarian Revolution of 1848

The Bavarian Revolution of 1848 (9 February-16 March 1848) was one of the Revolutions of 1848, occurring when German students in the kingdom of Bavaria forced King Ludwig I of Bavaria to abdicate. Ironically, the revolution was led by conservative Catholics and later joined by some liberal students, as the Catholics were opposed to the king's Irish mistress Lola Montez trying to launch liberal reforms through a Protestant prime minister. Students began demonstrating for political reform, hijacking the conservatives' protests to lead a revolution. King Ludwig decided to abdicate rather than become a "slave", and Maximilian II of Bavaria introduced some popular reforms.